Medium to Long-term Outlook Bullish For India’s 7 Seven Office Mkts: Vestian 

New Delhi, October 1, 2023: Demand for office spaces in the medium to long term will remain strong in India’s top seven cities because of cost-effectiveness with monthly average rental hovering just around USD 1-2 per sq ft, according to Vestian. 

In sharp contrast, the monthly average rent in New York, London, Miami, Seattle and Boston is USD 40-80 per sq ft, according to the data compiled by Vestian Research. Rentals in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai are USD 3-8 per sq ft a month. 

Shrinivas Rao, CEO, Vestian, said “Indian office market has grown leaps and bounds in the past decade due to robust demand from large multinational companies. These companies set up their operations in India to reap the cost benefits. The demand for office spaces in India is expected to be buoyant amid current macroeconomic uncertainty across the globe as companies are majorly focusing on optimizing operational costs for their businesses”.

Rental of all major office markets globally 

Note: INR 80 = USD 1 

Source: Compiled by Vestian Research

Vestian noted that several multinational corporations have set up their offices in India to effectively manage and execute real-time tasks across the globe from their Indian base. This preference is chiefly driven by substantial cost advantage associated with operating from India, as the cost of occupancy and overall operational expenses in India are notably lower in comparison to many other countries.

The availability of high-quality talent pool at an affordable rate is also an important factor for MNCs to set up offices in India. 

Indian professionals have consistently demonstrated high efficiency, surpassing their counterparts in various parts of the world. An additional financial advantage lies in currency exchange rates as it reduces the operational cost significantly. 

India’s Major Office Micro Markets and their rentals

Note: INR 80 = USD 1

Source: Vestian Research

India’s Gross Office Leasing

Source: Vestian Research

Some of the major reasons for cost differences: 

• Demand Disparity in Global Financial Markets and Indian Cities: The demand for office spaces in prominent global financial hubs such as New York, London, Boston, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Singapore remain exceptionally high, resulting in fiercely competitive rental rates. In stark contrast, Indian cities exhibit an abundance of office space, leading to a more competitive pricing landscape.
• Influence of Currency Exchange Rates: Currency exchange rates exert a significant influence on the relatively lower office space rentals in India. This dynamic is integral to understanding the cost differential between Indian markets and their global counterparts.
• Competitive Advantage in Labor Costs: India enjoys a distinct competitive advantage due to its comparatively low labour costs when juxtaposed with many other countries. This affordability extends to various facets of business operations, including acquisition of office spaces.

Government Initiatives to Foster Business Growth: The Indian government has proactively introduced a range of initiatives aimed at attracting foreign investment and spurring business growth. These measures include incentives and tax benefits, which collectively serve to reduce the overall cost of conducting business, including expenditure related to office space.